December 31, 2011

Ever since I was a little girl I not only pictured my wedding day but would act it out.
I would put on the same dress my mom married my dad in and pick roses from the yard as my bouquet.
We had this arch in the corner of our backyard and I would sprinkle rose pedals in two parallel lines that created the "aisle" I would walk down.
The only part that would change each time was the person waiting for me at the other end. Sometimes it was a neighbor boy, close friend, or a lot of the time, my brother. {come on, we were just little kids playing pretend}
But as I grew older the acting became imagining and the imagining became less frequent.
I had other plans for my life first.

.......................

I was going to graduate high school,
go to college,
discover who I was,
date several guys,
start a career,
and then, after I had myself all put together, I would consider settling down to have a family.
All I have to say is the Lord works in mysterious ways and his will didn't exactly match my own.
Was I stubborn about it at first? Yes. But, did I find that the different plan for my life made me the happiest I've ever been? Absolutely.

........................

This year was a dream come true for me and it definitely feels bittersweet that it has come and gone.
It was only 7 short months ago that I married the handsome man with the beautiful blue eyes, and while it feels like just yesterday, it also feels like an eternity away.
I didn't get married in my mom's dress under the arch in our backyard but it was more than I ever hoped it would be.

I have been thinking a lot lately where our story began.
Remembering the funny way we met for the first time,
the first date,
the first kiss,
the first time I realized that I knew what it meant to fall in love, to be in love.
While I look back on all of those fond memories, they are still very much alive.
What I thought was my fairytale ending has really only just begun.
The story of us.

December 30, 2011

Christmas 2008 began an exciting new experience for me.
It came 4 months after my niece Abby was born, her very first Christmas.
I had never experienced a Christmas with someone that little being a part of it before.
My brother and I were only 17 months apart so our Christmas memories as little kids are pretty close to the same.
Last year it was even more fun watching a now curious little 2-year-old, tear the paper from her gifts with excitement.
The only difference was, she became so overwhelmed by all the paper that once her presents were opened, she had already moved on to tearing more paper from the next present.
It was special seeing that undeniable excitement of a child at Christmas time.But there was something about this year.Something about being 3 that was different.This year she began to understand and to believe in Santa.
Since Santa "wasn't able to come" until after nap time {when mommy got home from work}, I got to ask my little niece what she asked Santa to bring her for Christmas.

M: "Abby, what did you ask Santa to bring you when you wake up from your nap?"excitedly awaiting her answer she got this humble little smile on her face and replied,
A: "Purple Sparkly Shoes"

... And even for the slightest moment I saw the true heart of a believing child at Christmas for the very first time.
Christmas day left me believing in the magic of it all and I found myself counting down the days until I would be able to experience this sweet blessing all over again.The magic of the purple sparkly shoes.

December 29, 2011

1. You know it is a sick day when you wake up every half an hour throughout the night hoping that the next time you wake up it will just be morning already. I came down with my AT LEAST once a year chest cold. Everything aches and my voice has become 3 octaves lower into the "sexy" baritone range. I think I'll spend today in my jammies and slippers.
2. During my every half an hour wake-ups last night, 2:30 in the morning to be exact, I woke up to a dark shadow lurking over the bed and quickly discovered it was my un-clothed disoriented husband.
M: "What in the world are you doing?"
N: "Showering."
M: "Uh, at 2:30 in the morning?"
N: "Oh." {puts back on his pajamas and crawls back into bed}
How's that for a humorous story to tease him about in the morning??
3. Nic got Insanity for Christmas. Say hello to our New Year's resolution - Kashi cereal and all. I'll admit, it isn't AS bad as the first time I tried it.
4. We also got the 8th season of One Tree Hill and I'm pretty sure if Nic didn't have to work today, we would have stayed up all night watching it. Addicted.
5. Classes are still well underway for the both of us. Just have to keep reminding myself on a daily basis that it will be well-worth it in the end.
6. No snow in Idaho in December?! This is unheard of.
Dear Snow,
I only missed you on Christmas day and may miss you when I get my monthly power bills in the summer but other than that, what a generous Christmas present you gave me this year!
7. I finally finished the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. They were excellent in case you are looking for a new read!
8. We have yet to make New Years plans. 20-something-year-olds without New Years plans? Looks like we need to start branching out and making some new friends.
9. My dad went in for an angiogram yesterday and while in my heart I knew he would be okay, I was still pretty nervous. Turns out his heart is still tickin' away and he is going to be just fine. Praise the Lord!
10. I can hardly wait to try out my first sewing machine I got for Christmas! I'll be hemming pants, making clothes, recovering pillows, and creating fabulous things before you can call me Martha Stewart.

Nic joined me in Meridian just in time to spend Christmas Eve with my momma and brother.

We spent the morning showering and getting ready.

Twice I might add.

I may have microwaved seafood chowder for lunch, grabbed the bowl when it was scalding, dropped the bowl on the floor creating an explosion that managed to cover the floor, the counter, the stove, the microwave, and Nic and I's hair. Greaaaaaaaat.
Then we went to my mom's church which had a nice candlelight service for Christmas.

When we got home we watched Ice Age - A Mammoth Christmas which could have quite possibly left me smiling for the next year.

We ate crab and artichoke dip, ham, smoked turkey and provolone on rolls, green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, and gained 10 pounds in the process. Oh, with a few cookies for dessert.

Basically my hips are really loving me right now.

We all opened all of our presents to each other except Nic and I who saved our big gifts to each other for a special Christmas morning just the two of us.

We watched Just Go With It which I have now seen several times and have yet to get sick of it.

"Love that show more than anything in the world Govnah!"{insert English accent}

Christmas Eve spent with my mom every year is always special to me so I'm glad Nic was able to be a part of it this year.

a) With the icicle garland hung on the tree,

b) A momma's beautiful smile,

c) The approving reaction from my brother when he saw that I wrapped his gift in newspaper. The sports section to be more specific. {even though his face isn't showing it here},

d) Opening my first sewing machine,

e) Spending my first Christmas with the man of my dreams,

f) and giggling at all of the tags on husband's gifts from his "favorite (and only) mother-in-law".

g) We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas Eve and wishing you an even better New Year!

December 27, 2011

While I haven't been able to do it the last 2 years or so, that passion still burns inside me.

It became even more special to me a week and a half ago when I got to see my adorable niece Abby dance her little heart out on a big stage right in front of me.

Abby and Mary Poppins dancing to supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

{Abby is the one on the far right behind the too tall of a girl in front of her, bummer}.
My favorite part is the end when she is swingin' her arm and marching off stage {straggling along in the back of course :) }

I had GREAT intentions of taking a bunch of pictures and posting away over the last week and a half about all of the fun things we have been up to and then one day went by,

then another,

and before I knew it,

I was back at home with yet another Christmas lived and loved behind me.

It was honestly the best Christmas I have ever had with my family.

I hope you all had as beautiful of a Christmas as I was blessed with this year. More on that tomorrow.

On another note - You will find me doing my VERY.FIRST.GUEST POST{yeah I know, lil Meagan is moving up in this blogging world!} over at One Artsy Mama today where you can find out about a family favorite Christmas tradition!

Seriously SO grateful for the opportunity!!

For those of you who are new to 2 Little Love Birds, can't wait to meet you.

Makes a little over 3 dozen - so to avoid yourself from the gut wrenching pain that comes after devouring to0 many of these bad boys, you might wanna consider sharing with a neighbor. Been there, done that. Just sayin.

December 7, 2011

Yesterday I found myself in a "woah is me" mindset.
I came home grouchy to my sweet husband.
Took all of my frustrations out on him.
I complained about the pile of homework that continued to rise higher no matter how much I accomplished.
The same pile of homework that kept me up until one in the morning.
And believe me, a one in the morning kind of night does not look so good on this girl the next day.
I stressed over the giant weight that seemed to force me to tears at the thought of finals week only being a week away.
I was just...
discouraged
tired
and in need of a break.
When I felt like one more day might push me to my breaking point, I was reminded of how truly lucky I am and suddenly felt 100% better.

I am a firm believer that people come into your life for a reason.
For a purpose you may begin to understand right away,
or you may never know.
Both of which cause me to see the world from a different perspective,
to find out who I really am,
to make me grow into the person I am supposed to become,
and to feel more lucky than a girl could ever be.

***

On Monday night I heard an unexpected knock on my door.
Nic went to answer it only to find my favorite person standing on the other side, the Bishop's wife.
Let me just tell you, this woman is amazing.
She had in her hands a heater from her own home that she wanted to lend Nic and I for the winter.
Made my heart swell with gratitude.
I am lucky to have her in my life.

Last night when I felt overwhelmed, I took a study break.
A little blog stalking to be exact, my favorite kind of study break :)
Most of these woman (whether I have met them in person or not) truly inspire me with their talents and their heart that they share through their writing.
One of these women is Eva over at Delightful Creations.
Yesterday as I was happily reading one of her blog posts, I was thrilled to find out she had received the Liebster Blogging Award. {I had no idea what this was at the time}
So I kept reading and discovered that it is a pay-it-forward type of award for bloggers with less than 200 followers and that it means favorite or dearest.
Still smiling, I kept reading along.
A few more paragraphs down I wasn't expecting to find what I did.
When selecting 5 people to pass along this award to, I found my name on the list.
Me? I had to look at it a few times to make sure I wasn't just crazy. {Since I tend to be these days}
After only knowing each other for a week, it just blew me away.
It is people like Eva that completely make my day.
I have been so inspired and lucky by the lives that have touched mine through this whole other world.

I am currently taking a special education class for my major this semester and last week I had an amazing opportunity.
Remember that man that had such a big impact on me that I talked about here?
I got to meet him!
He has been blind his entire life but it has in no way stopped him from anything.
He has an amazing outlook on life and is so willing to help people succeed.
It was one of the most humbling experiences I have ever had.
My class was able to go to the disability center (where he works) and where college students are able to receive extra assistance for whatever their needs may be.
This place has EVERYTHING from reading development programs, to magnifying projectors - even a brail printer!
yeahhhh, I know, I was amazed too!
I am grateful for this experience because it made me realize how lucky I am to have my sight, to have an opportunity to work with students with diverse needs, and the opportunity to help children succeed in school no matter their circumstance. {a big thanks to adaptive technology}

Need I say more?
When in need of a little reminder, all I had to do was take a look around me.